Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander cultures and

histories
Information Processing
Student Worksheet

In this resource, students learn about our growing understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander histories and cultures using radiocarbon dating.

Students will:
 learn about radiocarbon dating and its applications to cultural heritage materials.
 analyse and interpret different texts and videos to better understand Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander cultures.
 build literacy and numeracy capabilities using cloze passages, writing a glossary,
interpreting graphs, answering comprehension questions, and making a timeline and a
map to summarise the research stories.

The activities address these Australian Curriculum Science Understanding and Inquiry Skills:

Students learn:
 all matter is made of atoms that are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons;
natural radioactivity arises from the decay of nuclei in atoms (ACSSU177)
o investigating how radiocarbon and other dating methods have been used to
establish that Aboriginal Peoples have been present on the Australian continent
for more than 60,000 years (OI.6)
 to communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including
constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language,
conventions and representations (ACSIS174)

General capabilities:

 Literacy
 Numeracy

Cross curriculum priorities:

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

These activities are suitable for students in Years 9-10.

Suggested Teaching Strategy - Jigsaw reading
Purpose

 To actively engage students in understanding the content of a particular text.

 To provide students with the opportunity to work together in small groups to accomplish
shared goals

Description

This document provides five texts (activities 2 – 6) on the same topic “Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories”, each with a different focus. The texts and
corresponding questions stand alone as complete units but are related to the topic under discussion.

Students work in groups, which can be similar or mixed ability, to process information for one text,
and by doing so learn the content of that text. They then convey/ teach this content to other
students, providing their part of the “jigsaw”.

Implementation

1. All students should complete Activity 1- Radiocarbon dating.

2. Organise the class into groups of five students. Tell students these are their “home” groups.

3. Within these groups, number students 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. These students will be responsible for
conveying the information from their “expert” group activity to the rest of their home group.
If there are more than five students in a home group, two students will have the same
“expert” number. These students will share the “expert” role for that numbered activity.

4. Group all the 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s together as “expert” groups. Each group will be provided
with the text(s) and questions for one of the activities (Activities 2-6). The texts provided can
vary in reading level and can be matched to the level of each “expert” group.

5. Students in “expert” groups process the source(s) of information for their activity. They read,
highlight key points, discuss and clarify so that each member of the group understands the
content. They jointly answer the questions provided for the activity, with each member of
the group recording the answers on their own activity sheet.

6. Students now return to their “home” groups, which contain members from each of the
“expert” groups.

7. Each “expert” student takes turns teaching the content of their activity to the “home” group.
The home group students record the important points learned from each “expert” in order
to answer the questions for that activity. In this way all students will complete the questions
for activities 2 to 6.

8. All students should then complete activity 7 to fit the jigsaw parts together.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 2
Activity 1: Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a well-known method for determining the age of materials up to the age of
~ 50,000 years.

Radiocarbon dating analyses may be carried out on diverse natural materials such as lake sediments,
groundwater and surface waters, tree rings, ice-cores, corals, soils and air.

ANSTO scientists use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of ancient artefacts and to shed light
on lives of the first people in Australia.

This dating method works by measuring the ratio of different isotopes of carbon in a sample using a
particle accelerator. Isotopes are atoms of the same element, having the same number of protons,
but different numbers of neutrons.

There are three main isotopes of carbon on earth:

Carbon-12 (99% of all carbon on earth)

Carbon-13 (almost 1% of all carbon on earth)

Carbon-14 (trace amounts only)

Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are both stable isotopes, but carbon-14 is unstable and undergoes
radioactive decay.

As you can see in the diagram on the left,

carbon-14 atoms are constantly being formed
in the Earth’s upper atmosphere when cosmic
radiation collides with atoms and makes free
neutrons. These neutrons then collide with
nitrogen-14 (14N) atoms to make carbon-14
(14C) atoms. Atoms of 14C combine with
oxygen to make carbon dioxide, which is
incorporated into plants during
photosynthesis. 14C moves into other living
organisms when plants are eaten.

The ratio of 14C to carbon-12 (12C) in an

organism remains relatively constant while it
is alive, but begins to decrease once the
organism dies. Once dead, there is no new
14C incorporated into the organism and 14C
continues to decay.

By measuring the 14C : 12C ratio in a

biological artefact, such as a piece of bone or
wood, we can calculate the age of the
artefact.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 3
1. Use the word bank below to complete the following paragraphs:
seven (7) trace stable most

radioactive nucleus six (6) age

ratio decays carbon-14 eight (8)

Carbon-12 is the _most_ abundant carbon isotope. It is stable and contains 6 protons and 6
neutrons in its nucleus. Carbon-13 makes up almost 1% of all carbon on earth. It is also
stable and contains 6 protons and seven neutrons in its nucleus. Carbon-14 is found in trace
amounts. It is unstable and radioactive and its nucleus contains 6 protons and 8 neutrons.

Living things contain carbon-14 and carbon-12 in a ratio that is the same as in the atmosphere at
the time. When the organism dies, the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 decreases, as carbon-14
decays away.

Using carbon dating, scientists can calculate how much carbon-14 decay has occurred by
measuring the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in the sample. The extent of carbon-14 decay will
reveal the age of the sample.

A graph of the decay of carbon-14 over time is below:

Carbon-14 Decay
100

90
Percent of original carbon-14 (%)

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000
Years from present (years)

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 4
Example: A scientist calculates that an artefact contains only 50% of the original amount of carbon-14 it
contained when it died. The scientist would use a graph like the one above to calculate that the artefact is
approximately 6000 years old.

Use the graph of carbon-14 decay to solve these science puzzles:

2. Carbon-dating was performed on an artefact that was found to have 25% of the original
carbon-14 remaining in it. How old is the artefact?
The artefact is 11500 years old.

3. Nuclear techniques are applied to analyze and date rock art, tools, ochres and animal
remains, shedding light on the culture of the first people in Australia. An accelerator
scientist at ANSTO performed radiocarbon dating and found that an artefact that was
30,000 years old. What percentage of the original carbon-14 remains in the artefact
today?
3%

4. Accelerator scientists at ANSTO date

Aboriginal rock art (pictured right) using mud
wasp nests to collect evidence of Aboriginal
Australians civilisations. The oldest dates
suggested that the rock art was 16,000 years
old. What percentage of the original carbon-
14 remains in the mud-wasp nests today?
12%

5. Carbon dating is most useful for determining the age of objects up to about 50,000 years
old. Refer to the graph to explain why carbon dating is less accurate for objects older
than this?
The graph is less accurate because the object decays overtime and turns into nitrogen.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 5
Activity 2: Dating the Warratyi Rock Shelter in the Flinders Ranges
Read the following article and answer the questions below:

[1]. ANSTO. (2016). Cutting-edge nuclear techniques help prove Australia's oldest Aboriginal site.
News article. https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/cutting-edge-nuclear-techniques-help-prove-
australias-oldest-aboriginal-site

1. Complete the glossary table below to define the following terms:

Term Definition

Artefacts An object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical

interest.

Collocated To set or arrange in a place or position especially to set by side.

Megafauna The large mammals of a particular region, habitat or geological period.

Non-destructive Non-involving damage or destruction, especially of an object or material that is

being tested.

Ochre An earthy pigment containing ferric oxide, typically with clay varying from light
yellow to brown or red.

2. Where is the site located and who are the traditional owners of the land?
The site was located on the Flinders Rangers and the traditional owners of the land are
the Adnyamathanha people.

3. Describe two major findings of this research project and what they tell us about
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture.

First it was discovered that the site was up to 49,000 years old

They found megafauna bones and they have found that megafaunas and humans
interacted by how they were collocated.
4. Why do scientists repeat research that is undertaken by other scientists in other
laboratories?
Scientists repeat research in laboratories to ensure the authenticity of the important
findings.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 6
Activity 3: Using mud wasp nests to date Aboriginal rock art
Read the two articles and watch the video to answer the questions below.

[2]. University of Melbourne. (2020). Wasp nests used to date Kimberley rock art. News article.
https://about.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2020/february/wasp-nests-used-to-date-ancient-
kimberley-rock-art

[3]. ANSTO. (2020). Dating Aboriginal rock art using mud wasp nests. News article.
https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/dating-aboriginal-rock-art-using-mud-wasp-nests

[4]. ANSTO. (2020). Mud wasp building nest helps date Aboriginal rock art. Video.
https://youtu.be/ZstN2zU_Ctc

1. What are the traditional Aboriginal names for the lands where these rock paintings are
found? What is the European name for their location?
Balangarra and Dambimangari lands are the traditional Aboriginal names for the lands.
The European name for this location is called the Kimberley region.

2. What is characteristic of the Gwion Gwion style of rock paintings?

The Gwion Gwion rock painting have the style of human figures engaged in hunt or
display.
3. What is the estimated age of the rock paintings?

The estimated age is 12,000 years.

4. Explain why it is difficult to date the pigment used in Aboriginal rock paintings.

Lack of organic matter in the pigment can decay and cannot use radiocarbon dating.

5. Radiocarbon dating of mud wasp nests was used as an indirect method of dating the
rock paintings. Create a flow chart to show the series of events that enable mud wasp
nests to be used to date rock art.

HINT: Describe, in the steps of the flow chart, how the charcoal from ancient bushfires
ends up in fossilised mud wasp nests near the rock art and how this is used to date the
paintings.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 7
Activity 4: Evidence of early occupation of Australia’s coasts
at Barrow Island in Northwest Australia
Read the following article and watch the embedded video to answer the questions below:

[5]. ANSTO. (2017). Indigenous Australia. News article. https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/indigenous-

australia

1. What artefacts were radiocarbon dated and how old were they?

Remnants of a shellfish that were consumed where dated 42,500 years ago
2. Who are the traditional owners of these lands?
Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation and Kuruma Marthudunera Aboriginal
Corporation

3. What new information does this study contribute to our understanding of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures?
The aboriginals that were living inland where relaying on resources from the coast. Barrow
Land, Northwest Australia was connected to the mainland by a land bridge until 6,800 years
ago until the sea level rose covering the bridge.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 8
Activity 5: World Heritage Listing for Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
supported by ANSTO research
Read the following articles and answer the questions below:

[6]. ANSTO (2019). Research supported World Heritage Listing for Aboriginal site. News article.
https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/research-supported-world-heritage-listing-for-aboriginal-site

[7]. Barras, C. (2020). Is an Aboriginal tale of an ancient volcano the oldest story ever told? Science
Magazine. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/aboriginal-tale-ancient-volcano-oldest-
story-ever-told

1. Describe the eel traps at Budj Bim.

The eel traps at Budj Bim are made up from a complex system of channels, weirs and
dams developed by Gunditjmara in order to trap store and harvest kooyang and short
finned eel.

2. Who are the traditional owners of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape?
The traditional owners are the Aboriginal Gundijmara people.

3. Which component of the Budj Bim eel traps were ANSTO scientists able to date using
radiocarbon dating? What is the estimated age of the Budj Bim eel traps?
The upper level of sediment used from the Budj Bim traps where used to date. The
estimated age is 6,600 years old.

4. UNESCO has recognised this site as having “outstanding universal value”. How do the
Budj Bim eel traps challenge some of the earlier European notions of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander cultures?
A finding has suggested there has been a deposit of charcoal in the channels that follows
that construction and have reflected the decrease of water flow with increased local
landscape fires that are associated with aboriginal activity in the area.

5. The Gunditjmara people have lived in the Budj Bim Landscape for a lot longer than 6,600
years. Explain why their oral traditions describing an ancient volcanic eruption may
represent the oldest scientific observation ever made?
The aboriginal people have kept many stories with one describing sea level rise that
drowned parts of the coast and with the volcanic eruption it has been theorised that it
would be 5 times as old.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 9
Activity 6: Earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation in Kakadu
National Park
Read the following article and watch the video to answer the questions below:

[8]. ANSTO. (2017). Nuclear science helps prove earliest Aboriginal occupation. News article.
https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/nuclear-science-helps-prove-earliest-aboriginal-occupation

[9]. Davidson, H. and Wahlquist, C. (2017). Australian dig finds evidence of Aboriginal habitation up
to 80,000 years ago. The Guardian. Video. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-
news/2017/jul/19/dig-finds-evidence-of-aboriginal-habitation-up-to-80000-years-ago

1. What is the name of the site and who are the traditional owners of the land?

The name of the site is Madjedbebe and the traditional owners of the land are the
indigenous people, Mirarr people are the traditional owner.
2. What artefacts were found during the archaeological dig?

In the site a hatchet head was found 20,000 years ago

3. How has this research changed our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander histories and cultures?

In the old days the indigenous would walk around the bush to find bush tacker and they
used rocks and axes. Indigenous would also use ochre, which is a type of earthy pigment
and reflective paint substance. The area was occupied for 65,000 years ago. Findings
also suggested that people crossed from South Asia when it was cooler and wetter.

4. Explain the role of the traditional owners in the project and why it could not have
proceeded without their participation.

It would of not proceeded without the traditional owners participation because it was
their sacred land. The site currently confines of the Jabiluka uranium mining lease, and
surrounded by t he 20,000s of hectares of the heritage listed Kakadu.

5. Why do scientists repeat research that is undertaken by other scientists in other

laboratories?

Scientists repeat research in laboratories to ensure the authenticity of the important findings.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 10
Activity 7: Bringing it all together

1. Label the map of Australia below with the following information about each research
project:
- Name of site
- Artefacts found
- Age of artefacts
- Traditional owners of the land
- A sentence to describe the significance of the research for our understanding
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

Use the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia as a guide

(https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/aiatsis-map-indigenous-australia)

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 11
 Article 2 Article 3
 Flinders Ranges  Kimberley region
 Megafauna bones  Gwion Gwion style rock paintings
 49,000 years old  12,000 years old
 The Adnyamathanha people  The Kimberly region is popular for their rock
 Megafaunas and humans interacted together paintings like the Gwion Gwion style. The
and where found in the same areas. paintings where of the people hunting.

Article 6
 Madjedbebe is a site found on Mirarr
land.
 hatchet head
 20,000 years ago
 Mirarr people
 Aboriginal people used axes made of
rocks to hunt and ochre for paint.

Article 4
 Barrow Land, Northwest Australia
 Remnants of a shellfish that were consumed Article 5
 42,500 years ago
 Budj Bim Landscape
 Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation and Kuruma  Budj Bim eel traps
Marthudunera Aboriginal Corporatio n  6,600 years old
 Northwest Australia was connected to the mainland by a  Aboriginal Gundijmara people
 Aboriginals had many stories that was passed
land bridge until the sea level rose
down to each generation on how the land
became what it is today.
2. Create a timeline to show the length of time that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples have been living continuously in Australia. Plot the five research projects above on
the timeline and include other significant events in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
histories from your own research and knowledge. Ensure your timeline is to scale.

Years before present

Article 2
 Flinders Ranger
 Megafauna bones
 49,000 years old
 The Adnyamathanha people
 Megafaunas and humans interacted together and where found in the same areas.

Article 4
 Barrow Land, Northwest Australia
 Remnants of a shellfish that were consumed
 42,500 years ago
 Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation and Kuruma Marthudunera Aboriginal
Corporation
 Northwest Australia was connected to the mainland by a land bridge until the sea level rose

Article 6
 Madjedbebe is a site found on Mirarr land.
 hatchet head
 20,000 years ago
 Mirarr people
 Aboriginal people used axes made of rocks to hunt and ochre for paint.

Article 3
 Kimberley region
 Gwion Gwion style rock paintings
 12,000 years old
 The Kimberly region is popular for their rock paintings like the Gwion Gwion style. The
paintings where of the people hunting.

Article 5
 Budj Bim Landscape
 Budj Bim eel traps
 6,600 years old
 Aboriginal Gundijmara people
 Aboriginals had many stories that was passed down to each generation
on how the land became what it is today.
Present day
3. Traditional owners must give scientists permission before these research projects can
begin, and may also have strict conditions for how scientists are allowed to interact with
their cultural sites.

Evaluate why it is important for scientists to obtain permission from the traditional
owners of the land before commencing science research together with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander cultures, using examples from the texts above.
It’s important to ask for permission from the traditional owners because the land has deep cultural
value and the artefacts found there represent the past aboriginals. Asking permission also shows
respect to the traditional owners and their land.

Radiocarbon dating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories 18 May 2020 Page | 14